Blood from '08 home invasion leads to charges

Drops of blood left behind in a 2008 home invasion have led to a suspect already in prison and new charges against him, Chicago police said today.

James Garcia, 29, of the 4500 block of West Harrison Street, has been charged with felony home invasion with a firearm in connection with the December 2008 robbery of a Northwest Side home.

Police said Garcia and an accomplice forced their way into the home in the 4900 block of West Medill Avenue in the Cragin neighborhood and took about $15,000 worth of jewelry at gunpoint.Detectives at that time noticed drops of blood, but none of the victims had any open wounds, police said. The blood was gathered and saved.

That blood recently was linked to a DNA sample taken from Garcia on an unrelated weapons conviction. He currently is serving time in Western Illinois Correctional Center.

Garcia is scheduled to appear in bond court today. Police still are looking for his accomplice.